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A's Melvin says Rangers will be fine

A's Melvin says Rangers will be fine

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Daniels, Ryan on Cruz suspension 3:01

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and CEO Nolan Ryan discuss Nelson Cruz's 50-game suspension and its effect on the team

By T.R. Sullivan
/
MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- The Rangers will be without outfielder Nelson Cruz for the rest of the regular season, and that may seem to benefit the Athletics, who entered Tuesday with a two-game lead in the American League West. But A's manager Bob Melvin said he didn't see it as all that beneficial to his team.

"They have a good lineup as it is," Melvin said. "They've bolstered their pitching staff, which makes them tough. Not only do they have a strong rotation, they have a deep bullpen. I don't think taking one hitter out of their lineup, albeit one that's produced a lot for them, really changes our feelings about them, nor should it."

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said the issue isn't how it impacts the Rangers on the field.

"I don't think that's neither here nor there," Scioscia said. "The broader picture is just from a standpoint of what baseball is about. This needs to be cleaned up and taken care of. The fact of what happens in a division, happens on a team -- there are a lot of players that maybe miss an opportunity because someone above them is playing at a level they shouldn't because of PEDs. That's as damaging as anything that's going to happen in baseball."